The new neutral approach was lobbied for by students at the forward-thinking school which has also permitted pupils to refer themselves as either male or female with those who consider themselves female, for example, able to use female toilets.

Jo Dwyer, a Year 11 student, told The Sydney Morning Herald their aim was to remove the ‘un-inclusive gender labels’ from school uniform.

He said: ‘Before the changes were implemented, students had to go through the school with parental permission and notes from psychologists before they were allowed to wear the cross gender uniform, and that wasn’t really a possibility for some students whose parents aren’t supportive of their gender identity.’

The move has been welcome by many but condemned by some Christian groups which have called it a ‘retrograde idea’ and ‘laughable’.